THE GOOD FORK

One of the originals in Red Hook. The owners opened up the Good Fork because they simply wanted a good place to eat in the neighborhood.

The area has come a long way since 2006 with some places leaving (LaNell’s and 360), but many more coming in. All the new places mention The Good Fork when talking about places they like in the neighborhood. It’s worth hitting for dinner. They are known for their dumplings and the steak and eggs “Korean style” have knock-out flavors. But that doesn’t mean the rest of the seasonal menu isn’t worth looking at as well.

391 Van Brunt Street

Brooklyn, NY 11231

T: 718.643.6636

www.goodfork.com

STEVE’S AUTHENTIC KEY LIME PIES

Key Lime Pie in Brooklyn? Yeah, that’s what we thought too. But as we were driving around, we kept on seeing people drive and bike up to Steve’s.  They have various sized key lime pies, but the best thing on the menu is the Swingle. A 3-inch key lime pie, chocolate dipped, and frozen. It’s a lovely combination of sweet chocolate and tart key lime pie.

Pier 41

204 Van Dyke Street

Brooklyn, NY 11231

T: 718.858.5333

www.stevesauthentic.com

HOME / MADE

Home/Made is like going to a cool friend’s apartment for a dinner party or brunch. A friend who hangs out with a stylish crowd. Comfy couches, cocktail tables, and an open kitchen create a homey atmosphere.

Brunch is a mainstay for Home/Made and like their name implies, they try to source their ingredients as close to home as possible. They get their eggs from the Red Hook Poultry Association, their produce mainly from local greenmarkets, like Union Square, and Added Value, a non-profit organization promoting the sustainable development of Red Hook.

293 Van Brunt Street

Brooklyn, NY 11231

T: 347.223.4135

www.homemadebklyn.com

FORT DEFIANCE

Fort Defiance is the perfect neighborhood hang. Drop by in the morning for your coffee, walk around Red Hook and pop in again for lunch or a snack, then swing back for an evening cocktail or beer. There is no pretense, no attitude. It’s what’s great about the scene in Red Hook: locals doing what they love and doing it well. The folks at Fort Defiance know their coffee, cocktails, soda, beer, and food.

365 Van Brunt Street

Brooklyn, NY 11231

T: 347.453.6672

www.fortdefiancebrooklyn.com

BAKED NYC

Stop by this American Style bakery/cafe for fresh made goods, baked on the premises behind a glass wall.

If you have trouble deciding what to order, the Chocolate Cloud Cookie is a good place to start. Intense chocolate gooeyness made with Valrhona chocolate, it feels like chocolate air when you bite into it.

359 Van Brunt Street
Brooklyn, New York 11231
T: 718.222.0345

www.bakednyc.com

RED HOOK BALL FIELDS FOOD VENDORS

Street food vendors have been selling Latin American food at the Red Hook Ball Fields since 1974, The food is authentic, cheap, fresh, and excellent. From the Spring (around the beginning of May) through the Fall (roughly the end of October), vendors sell their wares from trucks along Clinton and Bay Streets. They set up late morning and continue until evening.

Definitely try the crispy pig skin taco and the loroco and cheese pupusa. Go with friends, you’ll be able to share, which means trying more food.

Red Hook Ball Fields

Clinton Street & Bay Street

Brooklyn, NY 11231

www.redhookfoodvendors.com

BOTANICA

Botanica prides itself on making cocktails the old-fashioned way with a modern twist. Their commitment to local, organic ingredients and top-notch liquors makes their concoctions stand out.

Mint, figs, baby Japanese cucumbers, and berries all come from neighborhood Red Hook gardens. Fresh fruit is muddled and squeezed, then mixed with specialty brands like Miller’s Gin, Canton Ginger Liquor or Ron Zacapa Dark Rum. Absinthe, cacao infused vodka, jasmine tea pearls, and aloe vera, are just some of the unusual components they use in their delicious drinks.

220 Conover Street

Brooklyn, NY 11231

T: 718-797-2297

www.brooklynbotanica.com

SUNNY’S BAR

The locals in Red Hook love Red Hook for the fact that it is hard to get to and it still has a real Brooklyn neighborhood feel. Sunny’s Bar is one of the original local’s bars. It’s only open three nights a week and there’s live music. If you want cocktails, head to Botanica; if you want a local joint, head to Sunny’s.

253 Conover Street

Brooklyn, NY 11231

(718) 625-8211

www.sunnysredhook.com

FAIRWAY MARKET

Before Ikea moved into the neighborhood, the Fairway Market was the new kid in town that everyone had a love/hate relationship with. The market is located in a old (pre-Civil War) coffee and cotton warehouse. It’s one of the few places in Red Hook where you can eat with a view of the harbor.

480 Van Brunt Street

Brooklyn, NY 11231

T: 718.694.6868

www.fairwaymarket.com

RED HOOK LOBSTER POUND

Every Thursday, they drive up to Maine to buy fresh lobsters to sell at their Red Hook store.

Maine regulates its fishing industry to keep small family fisheries alive and more sustainable. Which ensures that the lobster is always fresh.

On Friday nights, the Lobster Pound caters a lobster feast at local restaurant, Rocky Sullivan’s. On weekends, they sell lobster rolls to order at the Brooklyn Flea, made on J.J. Nissen buns from Biddeford, Maine. And Friday through Sunday, they sell live lobsters at their Van Brunt store.

284 Van Brunt Street

Brooklyn, NY 11231

T: 646.326.7650

www.redhooklobsterpound.com

FREEBIRD BOOKS & GOODS

Walk up to the north end of Red Hook, along the waterfront on Columbia Street and you’ll hit Freebird Books & Goods. Inside you’ll find an eclectic mix of books with an emphasis on New York. We found a couple of fascinating old books. For $10 each, we picked up Forbes Magazines Volume One restaurant guide from 1971 and On The House by Matty & Don Simmons from 1955.

123 Columbia Street
Brooklyn, New York 11231
Phone 718.643.8484

www.freebirdbooks.com

METAL AND THREAD

Ok, this is not a food related store, but it is worth popping in when you are in Red Hook. They sell an eclectic array of metal and thread as the name suggests, but they also sell antique tools, men’s custom hats, and some artwork. Denise Carbonnell and Derek Dominy believe in the artisanal, the hand-made, the unique.

398 Van Brunt St

Brooklyn, NY 11231

T: 718.414.9651

www.metalthread.com

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